'08 Toy FJ Cruiser 'Jeep' Impounded

Think twice before you drive your Jeep into that muddy pool and/or sandy beach.

    '08 Toy FJ Cruiser 'Jeep' Impounded

VIN: JTEBU11F98K053135 '08 Toyota FJ Cruiser Off-white, Landcruiser Prado 'Jeep' - 4D, 2-4WD switchable

Think twice before you drive your Jeep into that muddy pool and/or sandy beach.

Think twice before you drive your Jeep into that muddy pool and/or sandy beach -- it could cost you more than your car is worth. 

Tow company charges Florida man nearly $49,000 to pull Jeep from mud pit and/or sandy beach.

Now, that’s the pits.

A Florida man whose Jeep got stuck in a mud pool while off-roading with his girlfriend says a towing company presented him with a bill totaling nearly $49,000 for pulling it out and towing it to storage. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Joel Rammer told local TV station WEXT that he ended up in a mud pit at a sandy beach while it was raining and visibilty was poor,  last week in Cocoa Beach, a suburb southwest of Orlando FL, and called for a tow. After 12 hours of work, the towing company, Johnsons' Assured Collision LLC, extracted the vehicle.

But when he went to pick it up, Ramer says he was given a bill for $48,835.

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“He informed me there was some damage done to the vehicle, but didn't get into details,” Ramer told the station. “He also informed me the bill was $48,000. I thought they made a huge mistake."

In truth, it seems that Ramer and his girlfriend were being naughty in their off-road adventure -- in addition to getting the vehicle stuck, he also got arrested and cited for being intoxicated, trespassing resisting arrest and disturbing the peace, WEXT reported. Ramer said he was unknowingly on private property probably owned by a local utility company.

Here’s the, er, breakdown of some of the items on the bill: $16,000 for an on-scene supervisor at $1,250 an hour. More than $10,000 for an off-road recovery incident response unit. A $5,000 fee for “dangerous condition liability insurance.” All in all, $48,835.... Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC.

On Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC’s Facebook page, reaction to the bill was incredulous. “Wow, ...Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC of Cocoa Beach FL found a sure fire way to make a dollar,” said one user. “What a bunch of incompetents,” said another. “48k for not having a clue how to do your job … I wouldn't trust you to tow a scooter.”

The owner of Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC, whose mission statement is "Price is Important, Satisfaction is Priceless," told WEXT that the Jeep's proximity to power lines put his seven-man team in dangerous conditions and that the fees reflect the industry standard fee schedule.

But the Statewide Towing Association told the station that the rates quoted appear to be out of whack. "Although Statewide Towing Association has not had a chance to review the actual invoice,” said a statement, “the rates quoted ... appear to be significantly in excess of the industry standards."

USA TODAY

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In addition, the association said the industry standard for an onsite supervisor is between $175 and $325 an hour, not the $1,250 that Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC charged, and that they have never heard of dangerous condition liability insurance, for which Ramer was billed $5,000.

The tow company’s owner also told the station that he is negotiating with Ramer’s insurance company. However, Ramer claims he is refusing to pay anything toward the tow, so the vehicle remains at Johnsons' Wreckers & Assured Collision LLC’s lot, where a lien has been placed on it.